What Season ski pass should I buy?, Everything you need to know about the Epic and Ikon pass

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Please be know you’re limits and ability level when skiing or snowboarding. Respect those around you while being aware of your surroundings. Start small and work your way up in learning how to navigate the Mountain. Snowboarding and skiing are both inherently dangerous activities, assume all risk.

Over the past five plus years, the ski industry has seen numerous changes. Lift ticket prices continue to increase with no sign of stopping, gear has become more advanced, and resorts are changing the way they do business, especially in the Season Pass sector. If you have been a dedicated rider, vacationer, weekend warrior, or even just the 1-2 days/year skier or boarder, you’ve probably noticed some changes in how resorts are operating.

Each year, larger ski corporations are either buying up ski resorts or partnering with them in order to include more “iconic” resort destinations on their season pass options. Once off the beaten path, resorts as well as small mom and pop mountains are now drawing more and more crowds to their locations each year. It’s the classic, never ending resort town saga of not wanting to “bite the hand that feeds you” while at the same time, hoping your once “local” resort isn’t going in the direction of being overrun by Corporate yahoos and the occasional self entitled tourist (If you’re reading this hopefully that isn’t you lol).

For someone who has had a season ski pass since junior high, I’ve never seen anything quite like it and it has been fascinating, yet sometimes agonizing to watch the acquisitions unfold. None-the-less it has been nice to venture out to new resorts and places that just five years ago would have cost the average skier an arm and a leg at the ticket window. Now, one can access most resorts all over North America as well as select ones in Europe and Japan with a season pass for around $1000. Not a bad deal, all things considered. I’m talking about the Epic and Ikon season passes that have revolutionized the ski industry and changed the game entirely.

Buying a season pass, especially if your new to it, can be a lot of information at once. In this post I’ll be giving insight on what to know, what to expect, what resorts are on each pass, the positives and negatives with each pass, as well as how to get the most out of your Epic or Ikon season pass:)

Jackson Hole is on the Ikon and Ikon Base Plus

What to know when purchasing the Ikon or Epic pass

The Epic pass was started back in 2008 and is sold through Vail Resorts, one of the larger if not the largest ski resort corporations in the world that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. From Epic Burgers to Epic Mix (an app that provides stats such as vertical feet skied) to Epic Mountain Express, Vail Resorts has found a way to have their hands in almost every connecting piece that revolves around providing what VR has coined an “experience of a lifetime” for guests. It’s genius from a business perspective. In what appeared to be a monopoly on the ski industry for quite some time, 3 years ago the Ikon Pass was introduced.

Unlike Vail Resorts, who owns most of the resorts on the Epic Pass, The Ikon pass owned by Alterra Mountain company, offers unlimited riding at a number of their resorts, but has also partnered with a number of resorts not owned by Alterra, with unlimited riding and up to 7 days at select resorts. A move that was pretty new in the season pass world just a few years ago. Although season passes in the past offered limited days at other resorts, it hadn’t been done on such a large scale as when the Ikon was introduced. Vail Resorts has since started to catch on, offering 7 days at resorts such as Telluride in Colorado and 7 Days combined at select resorts in the Canadian Rockies..

Both passes offer a monthly payment plan and passes typically go on sale in the spring for the following winter and the best time to buy is no later then the end of summer, when pass prices typically increase. In an attempt to increase pass sales, resorts will advertise, “to lock in a pass before prices increase”. Both passes offer a protection plan as well as reward discounts on lodging, rentals, and on mountain dining, which I’ll cover in more detail later in this blog.

Copper Mountain has become a local favorite in Colorado and offers unlimited riding on the Ikon Photo: Chip Proulx

What Resorts are on the Ikon and Epic Pass

Each season, more resorts are added to the above passes. Below I have listed out the resorts on each pass, their location, and the type of access you have to each resort.

Epic Pass (No Blackout Dates)

• Colorado Rockies

  • Unlimited Access at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte

  • 7 days at Telluride, after 7 days you’ll get 50 percent off lift tickets

• Utah

  • Unlimited access at Park City

• Washington

  • Unlimited Access at Stevens Pass

• Tahoe California

  • Unlimited Access at Northstar, Kirkwood, and Heavenly

• East Coast

  • Unlimited Access at Stowe, Mount Snow, and Okemo in Vermont

  • Unlimited Access at Wildcat, Mount Sunapee, Crotched Mountain, and Attitash in New Hampshire

  • Unlimited Access at Liberty Mountain, Roundtop Mountain, Whitetail, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain, and Hidden Valley in Pennsylvania

• Midwest

  • Unlimited access to Boston Mills, Alpine Valley, Brandy Wine, and Mad River Mountain in Ohio

  • Unlimited access at Wilmot in Wisconsin

  • Unlimited access to Afton Alps in Minnesota

  • Unlimited access at Paoli Peaks in Indiana

  • Unlimited access at Mt. Brighton in Michigan

  • Unlimited access at Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri

• British Columbia

  • Unlimited access at Whistler Blackcomb

• Canadian Rockies

  • Seven days total combined, not for each resort, at Fernie Alpine, Kimberley Alpine, Stoneham, Kicking Horse, Nakiska, and Monte Sainte Anne. After seven days, 50% off lift tickets

• Japan

  • Five days combined at a number of resorts in Hakuba Valley

  • Also Five days total at Rusutsu 

• Europe

  • With the FULL Epic pass you’ll also have access to a number of different resorts in Switzerland, Italy, France, and Austria

  • Lodging eservations must be booked at select properties in order to use your Epic Pass in Switzerland and Austrian resorts. Once booked, the properties will deliver your ski passes.

  • 3 days total combined at Ski Alberg resorts in Austria including St. Anon, one of the largest ski resorts in the world.

  • 5 days total combined at Verbier4vaallées resorts in Switzerland.

  • 7 days total combined at Les 3 Vallées resorts in France and also seven days in Italy at Skirama Dolomiti resorts.

  • Instead of using your epic pass visit the ticket window of the resorts mentioned above in France and Italy to receive day passes. Pass holders receive 50 percent off lift tickets after seven days are used at Skirama Dolomiti resorts.

• Switzerland

  • Unlimited Access to Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis

• Australia

  • Unlimited Access at Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek

Ikon Pass (No Blackout Dates)

• Colorado Rockies

  • Unlimited Access at Steamboat, Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Eldora

  • 7 days at Arapahoe Basin

  • 7 days combined, not with each individual resort, at Buttermilk, Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, and Highlands in Aspen.

• Utah

  • 7 days with each resort at Brighton and Deer Valley(Skiers only)

  • Unlimited access at Solitude

  • 7 days combined not with each individual resort at Alta and Snowbird

  • 7 Days at Snowbasin

• Washington

  • 7 days at Crystal Mountain

  • 7 days at Snoqualmie

• California

• Unlimited access at Palisades Tahoe (formally Squaw Valley), Mammoth Mountain, Bear Mountain, and June Mountain

• Oregon

  • 7 days at Mt. Bachelor

• New Mexico

  • 7 days at Taos resort

• Idaho

  • 7 days at Sun Valley

  • Unlimited at Schweitzer

• Montana

  • 7 Days at Big Sky (No access to the Tram)

• Wyoming

  • 7 days at Jackson Hole Resort

• East Coast

  • Unlimited access at Stratton and Sugarbush resorts in Vermont

  • 7 days combined at Killington/Pico resorts in Vermont

  • Unlimited Access at Snowshoe in West Virginia

  • 7 days at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire

  • 7 days at Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine

  • 7 Days at Windham in New York

  • 7 days each at Blue Mountain and Camelback in Pennsylvania

• Midwest

  • 7 days at Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands in Michigan

• Alaska

  • 7 days at Alyeska Resort

• Canada

  • 7 days each at Revelstoke, Red Mountain, Sun Peaks, Panorama, and Cypress Mountain in British Columbia

  • 7 days combined not with each individual resort, at Banff, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay

  • Unlimited access at Tremblant in Quebec

  • Unlimited access at Blue Mountain in Ontario

• Europe

  • 7 days combined at Dolomiti Superski resorts in Italy

  • 7 days combined at Zermatt Matterhorn resorts in Switzerland (Excluding Cervinia-Valtournenche in Italy)

  • 7 Days combined at Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley in France

  • 7 days combined at Kitzbühel and Mittersil in Austria

  • 7 Days combined at Ordino Arcalís, Pal Arinsal, and Grandvalira in Andorra

• Japan

  • 7 days each at Niseko United and Arai Snow

• South America

  • 7 days at Valle Nevado in Chile

• Australia

  • 7 days at Thredbo Resort

• New Zealand

  • 7 days combined not with each resort, at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt

The positive and negatives of each season pass

Not gonna lie, both passes have amazing resorts for skiing and snowboarding, making it a tough decision. However, depending on where you live and what you’re looking for, will decide what pass will be purchased. Below I’ll cover the pros and cons of each pass.

Ikon Pass

Pros

• Lot’s of unlimited riding options if you live in California, Colorado, and Vermont.

• Resorts have more of a mom and pop feel and less of a corporate like vibe. More of a homey/community like feel with less of a tourism like vibe.

• Renewal Discounts

• Monthly payment plan offered

• Pass insurance offered in case of emergencies and illnesses

• 15% off food, beverage, and retail

• 25% off lift tickets for friends and family

• Discounts with North Face and SMITH

• Discounts on Heli Trips

• Lodging discounts

• First Tracks- Once per month (Jan-March) at certain resorts, get first tracks before the mountain is open to the public.

• Discounted summer activities

• Protect our Winters membership

• Elect to Defer option- If your pass isn’t used after you buy it for any reason you can defer the pass to the following winter season. Must select this before Dec 9

• Discount pricing for Nurses, College students, and Military

Cons

• Not as many unlimited resort options

• More expensive than EPIC

• Not as many midwest resort options

• Ikon Military passes are more expensive then Epic military passes

Epic Pass

Pros

• More unlimited riding options in the Midwest, Colorado, and the East Coast. The epic pass works great if you live in the midwest because it allows you to ride your local hill, but also take trips out west and around the world. Check out reasons to ski or snowboard in the Midwest.

• Epic Coverage offered in case of job loss, illness, injury, or resort closures. May be covered for a pro-rated amount or full refund

• 20% off food, lodging, rentals, epic mountain express, Lessons, Golf at select courses, Keystone cat skiing, and Whistler heli-skiing

• Discounts on waxing and tuning at select locations

• Monthly payment plan offered

• Ski with a friend Lift Tickets. Discount varies based on resort and time of year

• Epic Mix app which provides Mobile pass interactive trail maps, resort info, and statistics from your day of riding such as vertical feet skied.

• Discounts for Military, College Students, and people with disabilities

Cons

• Most infrastructure at resorts have a similar feel and vibe. More cookie cutter approach with Epic burgers, Epic mix photos, etc.

• Mountain safety- You’ve probably noticed these yellow jackets on the mountain. Although they appear to be keeping everyone safe, not all are friendly. Instead of giving out warnings they can be irrational at times and take away peoples passes.

  Having more Ski Patrol on the mountain would be a better idea as they have more experience with navigating the mountain. Typically Ski Patrol are good skiers who have better judgement on whose in control and who is reckless.

• Lift Lines at resorts such as Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail can get pretty long especially during holidays and weekends.

Are there other season pass options that are less Expensive?

Yep, don’t plan on riding a lot or perhaps looking for a more affordable season pass, both Ikon and Epic have other season pass options. Under Ikon, there is the Base, Base plus, and a 4 day lift ticket pass.

Epic has a lot of different pass options including an Epic Local, Summit Value, Tahoe Local, Keystone Plus, and a 1 through 7 day lift ticket pass.

In order to get access to Snowmass in Aspen you have to purchase the full Ikon or the Ikon Base Plus

What to expect and how to get the most out of your Season Pass

Now that you’ve considered what pass you’ll buy for the upcoming season, a few things to be aware of when you’re riding different resorts are sometimes there will be lift lines, crowded slopes, bad snow, closed lifts, and traffic to the resort. Like anything in life, things don’t always go as planned. The best way to have a great day on the mountain is to be prepared and plan ahead. Weekends and Holidays can get pretty crowded so leave really early to beat the traffic. Weekdays will always be the best time to ride the resort. Also, depending on what pass you purchase, make sure to check Black Out dates around holidays, before traveling all the way to a resort. Check weather and road conditions ahead of time.

Make sure to have to the proper equipment. This includes the correct outerwear, layers, goggles, and board/skis for the day. Also make sure to get your board tuned periodically and check your equipment before heading to the mountain. I worked at a snowboard shop for years and I can’t tell you how many times people would come in with loose screws on their bindings as well as old or broken parts on their boots/bindings.

Planning ahead and having the proper equipment will allow you to get the most out of your season pass and have not only great days on the mountain, but an amazing season overall. Lastly, don’t forget to put your season pass to use. Take a weekend road trip, wake up early, book a flight, and try to get to the mountain as much as possible!

The Ultimate Buena Vista Colorado Guide (How to Spend 4 Days)

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Looking for a warmer part of Colorado close to the mountains with around 300 days of sunshine every year? Buena Vista is one of the coolest towns I’ve been to in Colorado and after you read this post I hope it inspires you to visit this unique corner of the state. Located right on the Arkansas river and at the base of the Collegiate Peaks( the largest concentrated area of Colorado 14ers in the state). What makes BV so unique is the High Mountain desert-like climate in town with a High Alpine climate just minutes outside of town up Cottonwood Pass.

Combine these two different climates and you have a number of different outdoor activities to choose from. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Buena Vista, where to stay or camp, outdoor recreation activities, and what to expect. Coool, lets do this..

Where is Buena Vista

Buena Vista is Southwest of Denver and in between Twin Lakes and Salida. Coming from the front range there’s two main routes to take, either Highway 24 through Leadville or US 285 through Fairplay. Both will be scenic drives through the mountains, making the start of your trip more exciting in my opinion. For flying, the closest major airport will be Aspen with other airports being in Colorado Springs along with Eagle. I listed miles and distances from major areas in Colorado below.

Denver- 123 miles/2 hours 15 minutes

Colorado Springs- 93 miles/2 hours

Breckenridge- 60 miles/1 hour and 15 minutes

Boulder- 134 miles/2.5 hours

Where to Stay

There will be a number of places right in town or walking distance to town. BV has a number of side streets and neighborhoods not far from the Main street that run through town. I stayed in a nice two bedroom condo that I booked on VRBO that was a 1/2 mile to Main Street.

Another place I’d recommend staying is the Surf Hotel and Chateau, place looks awesome. With an in-house restaurant and Lobby bar, the idea is to combine the outdoors with European style luxury hospitality. They have live a music venue outside, as well as an indoor ballroom for weddings and events. If you want a more secluded experience next door is the Chateau with cottage style units.

Where can you camp

There will be paid campsites as well dispersed campsites. I booked a campsite at one of my favorite campgrounds, Ruby Mountain, right on the Arkansas River, overlooking the collegiate peaks. They have bathroom facilities, picnic tables, and a fire grate to cook food over or to have a campfire.

To book this site go to Colorado Parks and Wildlife >Camping Reservations>Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area>Site List. There will be different campgrounds to choose from with Ruby Mountain and Railroad Bridge being the closest paid sites to downtown BV. To look for dispersed camping (free) download apps Dyrt or Gaia.

Buena Vista Day 1 Itinerary

Walk along the Arkansas River Trail

Once you’ve checked in and gotten settled, I recommend first doing a small walk along the Arkansas River. Park at the Whitewater Park and follow the River Trail. You will probably come across kayakers and river surfers! If you want more views of the mountains, check out the Barbara Whipple trail in the same vicinity. It will have more elevation gain and require hiking footwear.

Dinner at Crave

One of my favorite restaurants in Colorado is Crave. It is a Pizzaria along with italian influence menu items. During the summer I recommend walking in and putting your name on a list or expect a wait. The vibe inside is authentic with a brick building and open kitchen so you can see your pizza being hand tossed from house made pizza dough.

Crave is also a really awesome place to grab lunch, as they open at 11am.

Catch a movie at the local Drive In Theater

Built in 1966, The Comanche theatre is one of 8 Drive in theaters left in Colorado, with only 320 left in the entire country! For point of reference, in the 1960’s there were over 4,000. If you’ve never gone to a drive-in theater it is a really cool experience. The theater is open Friday-Tuesday in the summer and weekends only after Labor Day with movies starting at dusk. You’ll park your car, set the radio station to the correct channel, and watch the movie from you’re vehicle.

Comanche will sell the typical movie theater snacks; popcorn, candy, hot pretzels, and pizza. Movies alternate every week with weekends being the busiest time to go. You can arrive early, grab a spot, hang out and watch the sunset before the movie starts. The theater is right outside of town on Highway 306 and is the highest drive-in theater in the country.

Buena Vista Day 2 Itinerary

Grab Breakfast at Cool River

Located on the East Side of Main Street, close to the river, this was my favorite coffee shop in town. The lighting in the morning is amazing and if you grab a window seat there will be surrounding town and mountain views as you drink your coffee or eat breakfast. There’s a lot of home made options and they have an awesome in-house bakery with Gluten Free as well as vegan options.

There’s also a full breakfast and lunch menu, not a bad place to start your day off.

Go Rafting

This area of Colorado will have some of the best rafting in the state, book a half day or full day rafting trip. I went with River Runners, 10 minutes from the downtown area, however there are a number of different rafting companies to book with. Lunch will be provided for full day raft trips and the raft company will provide full transportation to and from the river.

For beginner to intermediate rapids there is Browns Canyon and for people looking for a more intense raft trip there is Royal Gorge and Numbers! Rafting season runs from about Late May-Early September with the best rapids being late spring to early summer. A good snow season will effect how good the rafting summer will be, as the snowmelt eventually ends up in rivers and streams.

I’ve done Royal Gorge in the past and although it is a beautiful area the rapids are more intense. This rafting trip I went with Browns Canyon. Good for families as well as people who’ve never gone rafting before. Browns Canyon is mix of rapids with slower scenic areas. There was even an area along the river where our guide let us jump from a boulder called “jump rock.”

Dinner at Eddyline Brewery

After a day on the river grab a drink and food at Eddyline Brewery. There’s two locations, a restaurant and a Brewpub, both on the opposite ends of each other in town. Eddyline’s story started in 2009 making wood fired pizzas and brewing beer for the outdoor enthusiast looking to relax after a day of adventure. The Brewery has a nice hang out vibe and there’s a back patio for those nice summer evenings.

Sunset at Cottonwoodpass

One of my favorite things to do in Buena Vista is to catch the sunset up on Cottonwood Pass. Get on West Main Street, which turns into Highway 306 and take this road all the way to the top of the pass. There will be a few switchbacks towards the top so take it slow! The parking lot will be on the left. Bring a blanket and hang out in the parking lot or you can hike to the look out point, not far from the parking lot. You can see part of the Collegiate Peaks off to your right in the distance as the sun sets.

If you get to the top of the pass early enough you can hike part of the Colorado trail too. Follow the trail from the parking lot and it will eventually take you across a ridge with surrounding mountain views, which is part of the Gunnison National Forest! For help with navigating download All Trails Route #1978 Cottonwood South. The top of the pass is where the San Isabel National Forest and Gunnison National Forest meet, which is part of the Continental Divide!

The Continental Divide is the Topograhic line that seperates drainages either to the Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean. It goes down the Spine of the highest points of the Rocky Mountains from Alaska all the way to Mexico. Water either eventually ends up in the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic.

Buena Vista Day 3 Itinerary

Breakfast at Blend

I would say this is the healthiest place to eat in all of Buena Vista. Amazing smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and baked goods. If you plan on going for a long hike in the morning or mid day, this is a good place to get some good fuel before you hit the trail. The inside is also a good spot to get some work done if you need to, with a cafe lounge type atmosphere.

Hike Ptarmigan Lake

Once you are fueled up grab your hiking boots and get on Highway 306 again, the same road to Cottonwood pass. On the left, 14 miles west will be the Ptarmigan Lake trailhead. Parking can be limited at times, especially on weekends! This trail will be 6.1 miles out and back with 1,466 feet of elevation gain, so pack a good water bottle and some snacks. I wrote a blog post on this trail specifically, check out a complete guide on Ptarmigan Lake.

Happy Hour at Terrace on Main

End the afternoon at Terrace on Main from 4-5 pm with drink specials for cocktails, wine, and beer. Grab a seat on the rooftop that overlooks the town and mountain peaks. There is also a bites menu with appetizers and a small desert menu with ingredients from locally sourced farmers. What I liked about Terrace on Main is they keep it simple yet have an inviting atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.

Buena Vista Day 4 Itinerary

Sunrise Hike at Lost Lake

Recently re-routed with a new parking lot at the trailhead, Lost Lake is a must if you like hiking and are in Buena Vista. If you’re able to wake up early enough for sunrise, it is so peaceful and chances are there won’t be anyone up at the lake or on the trail.

The elevation gain is only 423 feet with some rocky areas as you approach the lake so make sure you have good hiking boots! The trail is close to 3.5 miles round trip and takes about two hours or more depending on speed and time at the lake

Coffee at the Midland Stop

This small coffee shop on the East side of town, will have a number of different drink options as well as a small amount of breakfast items. I liked how peaceful and quiet it was compared to restaurants in downtown BV. It’s a great place to go in the morning to start the day or after you’ve hiked Lost Lake.

Check out the shops downtown

Most small towns in Colorado will have a downtown area filled with eclectic shops and if you have time I recommend walking around to see if there’s a store or two you’d want to pop into. Two of my favorite shops in BV are Trailhead and CKS. Both will have lots of outdoor gear for adventures, but also a number of different clothing/lifestyle goods too. CKS will have most of what you would need for river/water sports activities while Trailhead is directed more towards the hiker, backpacker, and camping enthusiast.

Lunch at Simple Eatery

Inside Trailhead will be a lunch and dinner place with indoor and outdoor dining. They have healthier options with salads, soups, and sandwiches as well as artisan baked bread if you want to take something to go!

Mount Princeton Hot springs

End the trip by relaxing at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs! There will be different areas that you can soak in including; Chalk Creek, the Soaking Pool, and the Infinity Pool. The backdrop when hanging out in the infinity Pool is Mount Princeton with an elevation of 14,200 feet! These pools are a combination of rain and snow melt mixed with geothermic water that comes from the different fractures in rock.

The creekside pool will be right along the river with a more natural hot springs feel to it. The soak pool and private pools will be more like swimming pools. The infinity pool is pretty awesome as it overlooks Mount Princeton and the surrounding peaks! This pool can also be rented out privately. If you’d like to go more then a day, there is lodging, dining, and even a small grocery store on site.

Other Restaurants in BV

Buena Vista Roastery Cafe- Right in downtown BV, with usually a line out the door in the summer. This is not a bad place to get some work done or grab a cup of coffee in the AM.

K’s Old fashion Burgers- BV in the summertime is something special. Stopping in at K’s old fashion burgers mid day after being on the river all day or hiking a trail hits the spot. They’ve been around since 1955! Shakes, Fries, and burgers will be their main menu items.

Roosters Crow Cafe- Looking for a diner style breakfast? Roosters Crow cafe serves breakfast and lunch and has that old school feel to it with prices that are affordable.

Wesley and Rose- Inside the Surf Hotel, this lobby restaurant and bar will serve cocktails, starters, and some awesome seasonal dinner items. Wesley and Rose also does private events as it is a perfect place to rent out for a group.

Other Activities

Biking- Lot’s of different mount biking trails in BV, this place is a hub for biking enthusiasts (especially when spring rolls around).

Browns Canyon National Monument- Located just past Ruby Mountain Campground, this national monument has hiking trails, views , and colorful rock outcroppings all around. National Monuments were first initiated in 1906 and are a way to protect, conserve, and restore landscapes with lots of diversity and science. Parking is free at the trailhead, but not the Ruby Mountain recreation area. There will be trails along the river and through the Canyon. It’s honestly somewhat confusing in areas, but grab a map at the trailhead to decide what route you’d like to take. There is private property in the area so try to obey and closed areas you might come across.

River Surfing- Challenging, but fun! There is river surfing in Salida and at the Adventure park area in Buena Vista. Salida has a wave right in town near the surf shop Bad Fish. Bad Fish offers two hour demos, but you would need to rent a wetsuit elsewhere in town. There’s also the staircase wave in Buena Vista along with a new wave down river in the same Adventure Park Area being rebuilt fall of 2024. The staircase wave you’ll need a board with a lot of volume as it is a paddle in wave. For more skilled surfers, running and jumping to get on the wave is a possibility. For Rentals, go to CKS. They offer wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, and leash rentals!

St Elmo Ghost Town- Once a mining town in the 1800’s that eventually became abandoned, the historical buildings are still up kept today so visitors can experience what life might have been like in this time period. It’s a fun way to spend an hour or so walking around, reading the different historical facts.

Looking for more Colorado adventure in the summer? Check out the town of Leadville, not far from Buena Vista! Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post. It’s cool to connect with everyone so if you have any questions or comments to add please leave them down below.